A New and Improved Story is On It's Way!

So, I've been re-writing all of the chapters of Never Forget, and I've gotten through Chapter Five. I've got a plot lined up, finally, and I'm ready to launch this sucker again!

If you've been with this story since it was posted, then you know this is the third version of it. I had problems with the first one going to fast for me, and the second one was in need of some updating after almost a year of not being touched.

This version is the FINAL version, and it is going to be amazing…I hope…

So, thank you loyal fans for sticking with me through this. I think it's time I reward you. Here is the first new chapter of Never Forget… Enjoy, and expect more chapters next week and in the coming weeks!

Snickety Lemon

Never Forget Final Chapter One

Zuko sat in his small cot, his back resting against the cold steel wall of his bedroom. The candles across the room flickered softly as shadows danced across the walls. Outside of the porthole, Zuko could see the setting sun, sinking beneath the waves of a navy blue ocean far off in the distance. Splatters of purple, pink, and orange painted the sky and coated the billowing clouds hovering over the horizon.

It was quiet. Save for the occasional creak of the ship's hull and the rhythmic slapping of the waves on the shore, there wasn't a single sound. Zhao had taken all of his crew—even the cook!—for his expedition to the North Pole to capture the Avatar, and now Zuko sat, stuck, alone, hopeless, with no chances of capturing the Avatar.

"Oh, the Avatar…" Zuko sighed, his back sliding down the wall as he collapsed in his bed. Zuko closed his eyes, imagining his wide, grey, accepting eyes; his bright goofy smile; his slim and athletic physique…

"No, this isn't right!" Zuko said, throwing his hands over his face, letting his body go limp. He found the Avatar very attractive for some reason, and he couldn't figure out why. Perhaps three years at sea with an all male crew had taken its toll…

"We're enemies," Zuko said softly, "It was never meant to be."

There was the sound of footsteps coming down the corridor outside of his door, growing louder and louder until they stopped outside the steel hatch.

"Prince Zuko?" Iroh asked, knocking on the door with three loud metallic clanks. "Are you in there?"

Zuko didn't answer, but he knew his uncle didn't need one to enter. The door creaked open.

"Prince Zuko, I'm going to go down to the local village for the Fire Festival."

Zuko stared at the ceiling.

"Why don't you come with me, nephew? Colonial festivals are very different from the ones you had in the capital. The fire flakes aren't as good, but it is still great fun!"

Zuko remained transfixed on a rivet on the ceiling he had been staring at, trying to ignore his uncle.

"Or you could just sit in the dark and sulk."

Silence.

"Nephew, please, it would make an old man happy, because…" his voice trailed off and he sniffed, wiping a single tear from his face, "I haven't been to a fire festival since Lu Ten died.

Zuko looked at his uncle with a softer face, "Uncle…"

"No, no, I understand. Leave you alone," Iroh stepped out of the room and closed the door with a soft thud. Footsteps trailed away.

Zuko groaned, "All right, I'll go!"

The door snapped open in an instant. "Excellent! Be ready in five minutes! I'll meet you on the docks! We don't want to be late for the festivities!" Iroh exclaimed, a bright smile now adorning his face as he raced down to the docks.

Zuko stood up, smirking half in relief and half in self-pity. He had fallen for it. He jumped off of the bed and began to remove his heavy robes. He looked down at his smooth, muscular chest, placing a hand over his heart.

"Damn you, heart, why do you have to make me feel so guilty?" Zuko said, still smirking to himself as he dressed.

"Oh, come on guys, can't we just sit down for a few minutes? I'm so tired!"

"Suit yourself. Take a break; miss out on all the fun! We're going to enjoy the festival!"

The girl smiled, running off into the crowd with her brother. The younger boy glanced around for a place to sit and relax, spying a bench in a park just down the boulevard. It seemed to be the only one, and there was a lone man sitting on it.

"Good enough…" he said, making his way out of the bustling crowd and down the street to the park.

The man glanced up, his hood low.

"Hi, is this seat taken?" the boy asked.

"No." The man said, sliding even more off to one side.

The boy smiled and sat down next to the man, sighing. "Ah, finally!" he exclaimed, letting his tired body collapse on the bench. He looked at the man beside him and held out his gloved hand.

"Hi, I'm…Kuzon," he said, his face bright and cheery.

The man looked up, enough so that his hood fell back to reveal a set of golden eyes, the left one surrounded by a deep red scar.

"Zuko?" the boy asked. "Prince Zuko, is that you?"

"Shhh! Don't announce it to the whole village!" he said, pulling his hood back down.

"I'm sorry."

"How did you recognize me?" Zuko asked, almost immediately realizing the redundancy of the question.

The boy didn't want to be rude. "Well, you know, you're a very, uh, unique person, Prince Zuko." Kuzon chuckled nervously, a smile still on his face.

Zuko felt his angry façade melt. He smiled. "Thanks, I guess." He studied the boy's face: the smile seemed so familiar, but the silly hat and get-up didn't. He reached out his hand, "Nice to meet you."

Kuzon looked at Zuko, mischievous thoughts running through his head. "So, have you been enjoying the festival?" Kuzon asked, leaning a little closer to Zuko. Zuko inched away from the edge of the bench.

"Eh, it's okay… I haven't, uh, really been seeing much of it." He chuckled. "My uncle dragged me here, and I've been a little bored."

"Well, why don't we go check out some more of the festival then?" Kuzon said, looking into Zuko's deep golden eyes, realizing just how beautiful they really were.

"I don't know…" Zuko said, rubbing his neck.

"C'mon, it'll be fun!" Kuzon jumped up, taking Zuko's hand and pulling him off the bench and onto his feet.

"I guess I don't really have a choice!" he said as the young boy pulled him back into the crowd, both of them smiling brightly.

They went from shop to stand to attraction, taking in all the sights, sounds, and smells the festival had to offer. Zuko never stopped smiling, although he still hid behind his dark cloak.

While they were watching a show, dazzling at the performers as they leaped about the stage, Zuko noticed something: his hand. He followed his arm down to see Kuzon's small hand still clasped in his. He looked up at Kuzon who was smiling a deep, soft, affectionate smile. He lifted Zuko's arm around his shoulders. Zuko felt his hand sliding down the younger boy's side, pulling him close to his chest. Kuzon nuzzled into the warmth, feeling safe and protected. Zuko watched him, smiling.

It was late when the two finally returned to the park. They walked hand in hand and sat down on the bench they had left hours earlier. Kuzon leaned back into Zuko's lap, looking up at the teen's beautiful chiseled face.

"Thank you, for everything, Kuzon. You've really made my day so much better."

"You're welcome," he replied, reaching his hand up to stroke Zuko's face. Zuko shuddered as the soft fabric of the glove tickled his skin, leaving goose bumps in its wake. The small boy wrapped his arms around the older teen's shoulders and lifted himself up to kiss the handsome teen. Zuko was shocked, but wrapped his arms around the smaller boy to cradle him, kissing him harder. They broke and Kuzon dropped back into Zuko's lap, nuzzling into his stomach.

"Do you believe in love at first sight?" Kuzon asked, smiling up at his new lover.

Zuko ran his warm fingers down the boy's face, "I do now…"

Kuzon smiled and grabbed Zuko's hand, kissing it, and then letting it go. He glanced into the crowd.

"Oh no…" he gasped. "I have to go!" Kuzon said, sitting up, "I'm so sorry!" He leapt of the bench and began to run.

Zuko grabbed his arm and stopped him, "Wait!" He pulled him back. "Will I ever see you again?"

Kuzon placed both hands on Zuko's face and kissed him passionately. "Yes."

And with that he fled, his cloak and hat fluttering.

For a moment, Zuko could've sworn he saw a blue tattoo on the boy's bald head, revealed as the hat began to fall off. The boy was too far away to tell. Zuko looked up into the sky to see the remnants of a blue firework fading into the darkness.

"No, it couldn't have been…" he said to himself, standing up and walking away. He stopped, "Could it?"

"Aang, there you are!" Katara exclaimed, grabbing Aang's shoulder and clasping his hand. "Where have you been? I was so worried!"

Aang stopped to catch his breath. "Oh, you know, just goofing off, staying out of trouble…"

"I thought you wanted to study some firebending?" Sokka asked, following Aang and Katara back into the sea of people.

"Oh yeah… Hey, what's this!" he exclaimed, running towards a crowd of people gathered around a large stage.

"Knowing the Fire Nation, probably an execution," Sokka said glumly.

Aang watched the magician with empty eyes. He tried to pay attention, but couldn't. All of his thoughts were swirling, focused on the amazing night he had just had with his greatest enemy.

Zuko found his uncle perusing the many shelves of a small shop down a small further down the boulevard. Zuko walked in, half in a daze after what had just happened. He felt like he was dreaming.

"Ah, there you are nephew! Where were you?" Iroh asked happily.

"Around…" Zuko said elusively.

"Are you having fun, nephew, enjoying the festival?"

"Actually…yeah, I am."

"Good, good!" Iroh smiled. "And are you feeling any better now?"

"Yes." Zuko said softly. "Yes, I am. I feel so much better now, uncle!" He exclaimed, leaning against the wall and sighing softly.

Iroh was surprised, but ecstatic. "See, I told you! A nice night out would benefit you greatly.

"Yeah, you were right…" Zuko said, his face slightly red. He couldn't believe that earlier he had wished his uncle would be wrong, that he would have a terrible time.

The old cuckoo clock on the wall struck midnight.

"Well, I'm up far past my bedtime," Iroh joked. "Shall we head back to the ship and prepare for bed?"

"Sure…"

"Yup, a man needs his rest," Iroh said, messing up his nephew's hair. Zuko smiled and looked away, his face red.

When they returned to the ship, Zuko raced right to his room and closed the door. He undressed and collapsed on his bed, his body tired and sore and full of love.

"Oh, I'm in love…" he said to himself, sighing. He closed his eyes, thinking of Kuzon and the next time they would meet. He pulled the blankets over him, put out the candles, his body relaxing, sleep coming over him. For the first time in weeks—even months—Zuko slept peacefully.